Marshall Chess Biography

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Marshall Chess was born and raised during the heyday of the independent record business. Marshall learned every aspect through total immersion. For sixteen years he worked with founder of Chess Records: his father Leonard and his uncle Phil doing everything from pressing records and loading trucks to producing over 100 Chess Records projects and eventually heading up the label as President after the GRT acquisition in 1969. In the late 1960â??s Marshall also ran his own record label Cadet Concept, a division of Chess Records. He created and produced the Rotary Connection, which became the springboard for Minnie Rippertonâ??s career. He signed John Klemmer and created a new format which was heralded as the first Jazz Fusion album, â??Blowinâ?? Goldâ??. He also created and produced the controversial blues album â??Electric Mudâ?? which expanded Muddy Waters audience to white America.

After departing from Chess Records, Marshall formed and ran Rolling Stone Records fro seven years. He helped create the Rolling Stones famous tongue and lip logo and was involved as Executive Producer on 7 Rolling Stone #1 albums during the 1970â??s.

During the 1980â??s and 1990â??s Marshall produced projects for both Sire Records and Island Records. He also produced many rap records at the beginning of the rap generation. He worked with rap star KRS ONE developing an audio comic book project "Break The Chain" for Marvel Comics.

As well as music, Marshall also produced 3 films. â??THE LEGEND OF BO DIDDLEYâ??, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONESâ??, and â??COCKSUCKER BLUESâ??.

In 1984, Marshall Chess became a partner in the famous blues and rock publishing company Arc Music, which he began actively heading in 1992.

More recently he finished a film project called â??Godfathers and Sonâ??sâ?? directed by Marc Leven, for the PBS series The Blues, produced by Martin Scorsese. In the film, Marshall produces a hip hop version of the classic Chess track â??Mannish Boyâ?? featuring rappers Chuck D and Common recording with members of the Electric Mud band.

This past year along with his son, Jamar they saw the creation of their own all-digital music label,
Musica de la Calle. The objective of our company is to release music hot off the street. As soon as we get it you get it. Through a digital platform we have the ability to do this as downloads.â?? says Jamar Chess co-founder of Musica de la Calle, grandson of Leonard Chess, co-founder of Chess Records, and son of Marshall Chess. As the third generation of record producers, Jamarâ??s is forming a nucleus of artists and producers that will drive the artistic direction of his company for years to come. He continues, â??What we are looking for is the newest sounds and the best, most interesting productions around. The artists that we have brought in are constantly coming up with new tracks and bringing in their collaborators to work with our other artists. Itâ??s developing into a big family sound.â??

The roots and experience of Musica de la Calle come out of a relationship with the legendary Arc Music Group, the publishing division of Chess and Vee Jay Records, was founded in 1953 and have been involved in developing artists of such great statue as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Howlin Wolf, Etta James, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jerry Butler and many others.

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